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Related Concept Videos

Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
Protein Families02:47

Protein Families

Protein families are groups of homologous proteins; that is, they have similarities in amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures. Protein families usually occur because of gene duplication, where an additional copy of a gene is inserted into the genome of an organism.   Mutations that change the amino acids but still allow the protein to be properly synthesized, will lead to new protein family members.   If these new proteins contain similar amino acids in key locations, protein...
Hemoglobin01:24

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a globular protein made up of four subunits. Two of these subunits are alpha chains, and the other two are beta chains. Each subunit contains a molecule of heme, which has an iron atom and can bind to oxygen. When an oxygen molecule binds to one heme group, it changes the shape of hemoglobin, making it easier for the other heme groups to bind oxygen as well.
When all four heme groups are bound to oxygen, the resulting molecule is called oxyhemoglobin. As a result, arterial blood...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

Evolution of hemoglobin and its genes.

Ross C Hardison1

  • 1Center for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics, Huck Institute of Genome Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. rch8@psu.edu

Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
|December 5, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Hemoglobin gene evolution reveals insights into gene regulation. Studies show dynamic beta-like globin clusters and conserved alpha-like clusters, highlighting evolutionary adaptations in mammals.

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A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 16, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq
07:09

A Bioinformatics Pipeline for Investigating Molecular Evolution and Gene Expression using RNA-seq

Published on: May 28, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • Hemoglobin function and gene expression are crucial for understanding human health.
  • Evolutionary studies of hemoglobin genes offer insights into their regulation and function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present human globin genes and their families.
  • To summarize key events in hemoglobin gene cluster evolution.
  • To discuss how evolutionary studies inform globin gene regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics of globin gene clusters.
  • Analysis of cis-regulatory elements in mammalian genomes.
  • Phylogenetic reconstruction of gene family evolution.

Main Results:

  • Human globin genes comprise multiple families.
  • The alpha-like globin gene complex is evolutionarily stable.
  • The beta-like globin gene clusters exhibit dynamic changes, including transpositions and lineage-specific expansions/deletions.

Conclusions:

  • Evolutionary insights into hemoglobin gene clusters illuminate gene regulation.
  • Conserved regulatory elements suggest fundamental mammalian requirements.
  • Lineage-specific DNA elements indicate adaptive fine-tuning of globin gene expression across mammalian orders.